Kate Middleton's Life in Photos: See Every Awkward and Adorable Stage

Happy birthday, Kate! The Duchess of Cambridge turns 34 today, so we're looking back at some of the big moments that shaped her.

By
Asher Fogle

Jan 9, 2016

Long before she became the future queen, Kate Middleton was just an athletic, studious — and goofy! — girl growing up in England.

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1982: A Babe in Arms

Michael Storm/Xclusive

Catherine Elizabeth Middleton was born on January 9, 1982, in Reading, Berkshire, England. Here, her father Michael, a pilot, holds her at 15-days-old (left) and her mother, Carole, a flight attendant, poses happily in another shot with her newborn daughter (right).

1985: A Happy Childhood

The Middleton Family/Clarence House via GettyImages

On the go! Kate Middleton, 3, perfects her climbing while on a family holiday in the Lake District.

1986: Life Abroad

The Middleton Family/Clarence House via GettyImages

From May 1984 to September 1986, Michael and Carole Middleton worked for British Airways in Amman, Jordan. Catherine (here, with her sister Pippa and her father in Jerash, Jordan) attended an English-language nursery school while the family lived overseas.

1987: Back in the UK

The Middleton Family/Clarence House

When she was 5, the Middleton family moved back to England in late 1986.

1990: Scout Middleton

Jane Scutter via People.com

Kate and Pippa both joined the local Brownies club, where they went on field trips, played sports, did needlework, and earned badges. "She was quite easygoing," Brownie pack leader June Scutter told People. "They were just ordinary children, nothing different from any others."

1986-1995: St. Andrew's Prep School

St Andrew's School + WPA Pool

Kate attended the prep school in Pangbourne, Berkshire. She's pictured (front, center) with her field hockey team — one of many sports she played during those years.

1995-2000: Boarding School Days

via The Daily Mail

After a brief stint at Down House all-girls boarding school (where she's said she was bullied by other students), Kate started at co-ed boarding school Marlborough. There, some mean-spirited boys began rating incoming students based on attractiveness and personality. (They reportedly gave Kate a two out of 10.) But she shrugged it off and went on to excel during her years there.

1999: A Typical Teen

Gemma Williamson via Daily Mail

Before graduating at Marlborough, Kate, 17, excelled at school. She studied for chemistry, biology, and art A-level exams — and became a student prefect. But she obviously still had a goofy side, which she showed off in this photo.

2001: Meeting Her Prince

REX

Kate met Prince William as a freshmen studying art history at St. Andrew's University in Scotland. They also lived in the same residence building, St. Salvators Hall. The two became friends, often sharing breakfast and walking to class together, but nothing more. (Kate had a boyfriend, too.)

But in March 2002, Will paid $200 to cheer her on from the front row at a charity fashion show. When Kate walked out wearing a sheer black sheath, bandeau top, and bikini bottom, the prince started to pay attention — and, well, the rest is history.

2003: Secretly Dating

Peter Kelly

By the end of 2002, Middleton's former boyfriend had graduated and they broke up over dating long-distance. The next fall, Middleton and several friends were invited to share a flat with Prince William. By 2003, they were officially (and secretly!) a couple. To protect themselves from the press, the two never showed affection in public and didn't sit by each other at formal meals.

2005: Graduation

On June 23, Will and Kate graduated from St. Andrews. And as you can see from this photo, they weren't shy about showing their affection on their special day.

2006: Independence

Tim Ockenden/AFP/Getty

Post-college, Kate went to work in London as an assistant accessories buyer for the clothing brand Jigsaw. (It wasn't easy, some sources say, to find a job as the girlfriend of a prince — one that was respectable enough for the royal family yet still gave her the flexibility to take off when William's schedule opened up.)

When he graduated from Sandhurst military academy on December 15, 2006, Kate joined the royal family to watch in the stands, showing her gradual acceptance into the fold. Later, it was reported that she left Jigsaw to study portrait photography — which, judging from the photos she takes of her children, has certainly paid off!

2007: On Her Own

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press

Just days after the pair appeared distant at the annual Cheltenham hunting festival on March 13, William was photographed partying with other girls. The Sun reported they split that April — apparently over the phone. (Rumors flew that he felt pressured by their families to propose or let her move on with her life.) Kate spent the summer training for a charity race (pictured), working, and going out in London with Pippa.

By June 2007, they reconciled. Looking back on that time, Will said later, "We were both very young … we were both finding ourselves and being different characters. It was very much trying to find our own way and we were growing up so it was just a bit of space and it worked out for the better."

2008: Back Together

Antony Jones/UK Press

"At the time I wasn't very happy about it, but actually it made me a stronger person, you find out things about yourself that maybe you hadn't realized," Kate later said of the break. "I think you can get quite consumed by a relationship when you're younger. I really valued that time for me as well, although I didn't think it at the time!" But even back with William, she still maintained her independence. Here, she's partying at a charity event, the Day-Glo Midnight Roller Disco, on September 18.

2009: Lady in Waiting

Anwar Hussein

Don't call her "Waity Kate!" But though the couple were back together, they tried to keep their romance as out of the spotlight as possible. Kate took pains to avoid paparazzi, sneaking behind William after his charity polo match on June 7.

2010: She Said Yes

Chris Jackson

But then there was no reason to hide: On a trip to Kenya, Prince William proposed to his girlfriend of eight years — with his late mother's sapphire ring. The couple officially announced their engagement in St. James Palace on November 16 in London. Princess Diana would have been so proud.

2011: A Royal Wedding

Mark Cuthbert / Contributor

In a storybook ceremony, the prince and his bride said "I do" at Westminster Abbey on April 29. Catherine, now the Duchess of Cambridge, wore a custom Alexander McQueen gown. (At 29, she's the oldest royal bride in English history.) Afterward, she and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, kissed on the balcony of the palace. Later, they honeymooned on a private island in the Seychelles.

2011: Newlywed Duties

Mark Lange

During the couple's first year of marriage, Kate quickly jumped into the whirlwind of royal duties. She and William hosted Barack and Michelle Obama at Buckingham Palace in May, then spent several weeks traveling around Canada and the United States on their first tour as a married couple. (Here, they're attending the star-studded BAFTA event July 9 in Los Angeles, where Kate wore an Alexander McQueen gown and earrings on loan from the Queen for the bash.)

2012: Homemaking

PARIS/bauergriffinonline.com

The newlyweds happily settled into life in Anglesey, North Wales, near William's base as an Royal Air Force air sea rescue pilot. (His fellow RAF call him Flight Lieutenant William Wales.) And they expanded their family — adding a new cocker spaniel puppy, Lupo, who joined them on the beach near their rented cottage in January.

2012: She's Expecting

Max Mumby/Indigo

No more hiding. After Catherine was rushed to London's King Edward VII hospital for a bad bout of morning sickness, the couple decided to publicly announce their pregnancy on December 6.

2013: Becoming a Mother

Max Mumby/Indigo / Contributor

Catherine gave birth to Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge on July 23, 2013, at St. Mary's Hospital in London. (He weighed a healthy 8lb 6oz!) The next day, a radiant Kate and very proud Will greeted fans and introduced the new heir to the world. Soon after, the little family retreated to her parents' home in Bucklebury, where she shunned a nanny in favor of her mother's help.

2014: First Family Trip

Hagen Hopkins

Undaunted by the prospect of traveling with an infant, Catherine took little Prince George along on a three-week tour through Australia and New Zealand (their first official one as a family!) She and Prince William arrived at Wellington, New Zealand, April 7 — and the new mom carried her scowling tyke with grace (and good balance). And that September, the couple announced they were expecting a second child!

2015: Meet Her Princess!

Mario Testino via facebook.com/TheBritishMonarchy

Catherine gave birth to Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana (who weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz.) at St. Mary's Hospital in London on May 2. Then, with Queen Elizabeth II and other family in attendance (and Prince George stealing the show), they christened her at the family's Sandringham Estate on July 5.

2015: A Working Mom

Samir Hussein

By fall, Kate was back to work, raising awareness about her favorite causes, especially youth homelessness and mental illness. But she made waves in December when she cut off her signature long tresses and debuted a gorgeous new lob.

2015-2016: Much to Celebrate

Chris Jelf /Kensington Palace

After a lively Christmas spent as a family of four, Catherine has much to look forward to this year. From Prince George's first day of school to her first royal tour without the kids, 34 is sure to be a big one for the duchess.

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